For all natural outdoor, I suggest setting up tanks once winter is over, give it about a month (longer better) to age and have tiny critters in them, then condition breeding pair.

MrV; is air that dry? ... I was going to suggest some sort of large mesh (?) covers instead of solid lids - avoid larger critters getting into the tanks, like dragonflies, frogs etc.

Thanks for the tips! Yes where I live I'm a mile above sea level and our humid isn't really humid at all....My favorite vacation place, Cozumel Mexico, is a betta breeders paradise...it rains for a few minuets a day...is always around 80F and HUMID! I made the mistake of wearing jeans the morning I left the island...ya not good :P

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Originally Posted by Oldfishlady

That method worked well for me last summer-I use 5g buckets full of rainwater, oak leaves and let the mosquito and other aquatic critters lay eggs and develop in them first...I added 2 females for a couple of days to fill up on larva and then I add the male and some water lettuce and other plants from my tanks that I had just trimmed and had a spawn within a few min the females demanded that the male spawn with them the second he was added...he didn't seem to complain...lol...... I had a nest and eggs nearly daily after that-no injuries or ripped fins-limited fry eaten by the adults....water temps got over 100F and as low as 56F and they continued to spawn and I would still get lots of fry...I made a post about it in the breeding section if you want more details http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=47192.....had several set up in different containers with mix of male and females....worked well.......

I loved that thread! I might let the tubs fill with rain water too.

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Originally Posted by Perdue

couldnt summer hot temperatures make the water too hot and hurt the bettas?

My tubs will be located under a large shady maple tree (my tree is tall and the bracnhes go over my deck).

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Originally Posted by TaylorW

This is such an interesting thread! And it's nice because these fish get a chance to be "wild" and act like they would in nature.